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FutureLearn

Foundations of Law in England and Wales: Introduction to Law for Non-lawyers

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Overview

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Explore the judicial system that shapes England and Wales

Understanding the legal system is crucial for professionals working alongside lawyers or handling legal matters in their roles. In this four-week course, you’ll explore how law is structured and applied, from key legal classifications to how courts operate.

You’ll gain insight into the foundations of law, including common law and equity, primary and secondary legislation, and the distinction between civil and criminal law.

Delve into the structure of the civil and criminal courts, learning how procedure rules guide legal processes. You’ll also explore Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods like mediation and arbitration, understanding how disputes can be settled outside of court.

Through real-world examples, you’ll gain the confidence to understand legal processes and their impact on society and workplaces.

Law firms and legal institutions operate within a unique professional and regulatory framework. This course will introduce you to the key roles within the legal profession—including solicitors, barristers, Chartered Legal Executives, judges, and juries—so you can better understand how law is practised.

Learn with the experts at CILEX

As the professional body for over 17,000 legal professionals in England and Wales, CILEX is dedicated to making legal careers more accessible. With deep expertise in legal education, CILEX has designed this course to provide essential legal knowledge for those working alongside legal professionals or returning to the field.

This course is part of a series for professionals in law-adjacent roles such as HR and legal services who want a clearer understanding of the legal system in England and Wales. It’s also ideal for those returning to law after a career break.

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Syllabus

  • Framework of Law for England and Wales
    • Introduction
    • What is law?
    • Legislation
    • Case law
    • Other categories of law
    • Summary and confidence check
    • Knowledge check
  • The System of Courts
    • The System of courts
    • The Different courts
    • Summary and confidence check
    • Knowledge check
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Tribunals
    • Introduction to ADR
    • Negotiation
    • Mediation
    • Conciliation
    • Arbitration
    • Tribunals
    • Summary and confidence check
    • Knowledge check
  • The Legal Professions
    • The three main branches of the legal profession
    • Chartered legal executives (CILEX lawyers)
    • Solicitors
    • Barristers
    • Other professionals working in law firms
    • Judges, Juries, and Magistrates
    • Summary and confidence check
    • Knowledge check

Taught by

Mark Styles

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